Tuesday, May 30, Public Health France revealed the results of a national study on precocious puberty. Once again, endocrine disruptors are singled out.

The results, based on data collected between 2011 and 2013, are in the form of a map of France.

As a reminder, precocious puberty is a disease responsible for the acceleration of growth in girls before the age of 8 years and in boys before 9 years. It results in the premature appearance of pubic hair and an increase in the volume of breasts and testicles.

1,173 new cases of precocious puberty per year

"We counted 1,173 new cases per year across the country (except overseas) among girls, and ten times less among boys," says Joelle Le Moal, epidemiologist and director of the study for Public Health France.

Why such a disparity between girls and boys? "We do not have a clear explanation for this difference between the sexes, but the hormonal system of boys and girls is not the same. There may also be a bias related to the fact that breast development is more visible and monitored than that of the testes. Cosmetics or hair products containing estrogen, used by little girls, could also play a role, "adds the expert.

South more affected than the rest of France

The most frequent cases have been identified in the Midi-Pyrénées and Rhône-Alpes regions, particularly around Toulouse and Lyon. Lille is one of the least affected cities.

But again, it is difficult according to Joelle Le Moal to explain such a difference and for the moment, only hypotheses are issued.

Researchers now want to focus on farms around these cities. Indeed, most of the products used by farmers (especially pesticides) have been suspected for years to be endocrine disruptors.

These results come precisely when the European Commission delays once again the vote of an exact and common definition of "endocrine disruptors" by the member countries of the European Union. The latter are still very divided on the subject.